Biovail, Acadia Drug Misses Goal in Study

NEW YORK (AP) — Canadian biotechnology company Biovail Corp. and Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. said Tuesday their drug candidate pimavanserin failed to meet key treatment goals in a late-stage study focusing on patients with Parkinson's disease psychosis. The drug candidate did not meet the study's standard of anti-psychotic effectiveness. The company cited better-than-expected results in patients taking placebo. The drug reached secondary goals of improving motoric tolerability, or motor function. Symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis include visual hallucinations and delusions. San Diego-based Acadia discovered the drug candidate and is collaborating with Biovail on development.